The Reason — Things Couldn't Be Better

Hamilton's The Reason are the latest entry in southern Ontario's long line of post-hardcore bands, but they seem to want to break out of the sonic mold that's exhausted most of their regional counterparts. Instead of singing then screaming to their heart's content, the band are far more melodic, borrowing more from indie pop than punk rock, though they still include some aggression beneath the jangling guitars and synths. Having a more diverse palette of influences makes for some surprising moments, like when the upbeat "All I Ever Wanted" suddenly breaks into guttural growling, then switches back as if it never happened. The Reason's sound is still rooted in melodramatic, emo-sounding pop, but they change things up enough to keep it interesting.